Aircraft rudder control column



Feb. 12, 1952 R. SAULNIER 2,585,688

AIRCRAFT RUDDER CONTROL COLUMN Filed Dec. 15, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inve' Tor) Affornejys Feb. 12, 195.2 R. SAULNIER 2,585,688

AIRCRAFT RUDDER CONTROL COLUMN Filed Dec. 15, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I H I 0 *2/51 n I"/V Feb. 12, 1952 Filed Dec. 15, 1948 R. SAULNIER 2,585,688

AIRCRAFT RUDDER CONTROL COLUMN 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 4

5 35; is I 26 f I Feb. 12, 1952 R. SAULNIER 2,585,688

AIRCRAFT RUDDER CONTROL COLUMN V Filed Dec. 15, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lTlTrlnnuu A L70 rhe ys Patented Feb. 12, 1952 p UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE Application December 15, 1948, Serial .No. 65,389. In France December 16, 1947 7 Claims. (Cl. 24486) The present invention relates to aircraft control columns and has for its main object to provide a device actuating, on the one hand, the vertical rudder, and on the other hand, the braking means of the landing wheels of said aircraft.

According to the present invention, the position of the members controlling the vertical rudder and the braking means is adjustable in a simple and easy manner, even in flight, at the pilots convenience, and thisv without involving the slightest change in the position of the controlled members.

In fact, it is well known that the position of the control member or members operated by the pilot, and which are generally constituted by pedals. must be adjusted to suit each pilots convenience, in order to avoid unnecessary fatigue.

The invention applies more particularly to control columns wherein the vertical rudder is actuated by translation of two pedals, whereas the braking of the landing wheels is operated by pivoting said pedals about a conveniently disposed axis. The device according to-the invention is designed and arranged in such a manner that operation of the vertical rudder has no effect on tion, in case of a twin-control drive with interconnected pilot's positions, the pedals of the two positions are adjustable independently of each other.

According to still another feature of the invention, the coupling of braking controls is performed mechanically, one position only comprising transmitters, which simplifies considerably the hydraulic circuit. This system provides, incidentally, for a first important supplementary advantage which is to transmit to the pedals of one of the pilots the motions imparted to the interconnected pedals by the other pilot. This point is, in fact, very important in the case of a training aircraft.

A second important advantage consists in that the transmitters remain at a stand-still wh'en'the pedals are actuated during the flight; thus, inthe case of a pneumatic or hydraulic brake drive, a rigid piping may be used. On the other hand,

as any displacement of transmitters by the pilot.

is avoided, his strain on the pedals is reduced, since no power is to be exerted for deforming flexible piping.

According to the invention each pedal is mounted on a substantially horizontal axis supportedby the lower end of a substantially vertical tube pivotally mounted on a substantially horizontal axis situated at its upper end, a transmission-rod connecting an intermediate point of each tube to a terminal part of a lever rigid with a second tube, the foot of which is articulated in a support, this foot bearing a second lever rigid with the same and leading to the control linkage of the rudder and, in the case of twin controls, also connected to a coupling rod interconnecting the two pilot positions; adjustment of the pedal position is carried out by displacing the upper end of said second tube provided with said rigid levers, this pivoting, whilst allowing a translatory shift of the pedals, does not interfere with the rudder control, the latter responding only to a rotation of said tube.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the displacement of the upper end of the tube,

the rotation of which controls the rudder, is carried out by means of a rod housed within a horizontal tube disposed perpendicularly to the axis of articulation of the pedals, this rod being mounted within this tube so that it mayrotate Without being able to slide by screwing itself into a nut member supported by the upper end of said second vertical tube.

According to another feature of the invention, the braking of either landing wheel is obtained by pivoting either pedal about its articulation axis, this pivoting being transmitted by means of a connecting-rod co-operating with each pedal, to a bell-crank lever controlling the sliding valve of a hydraulic distributor or the like.

According to another feature of the invention, said bell-crank lever may be locked in any desired position by means of a second rod sliding within the above-mentioned rod, controlling the adjustment of the pedals, and which is, for instance, connected with a pawl meshing with a toothed sector integral with said bell-crank lever.

According to still another feature of the invention, in case of a twin pilot drive, the coupling of the two pilot positions is carried out-as far as steering of the rudder is concernedby a connecting rod joining levers rigid with each of the tubes the rotation of which controls the rudderwhilst, as far as the control of the brakes is concerned-the coupling is performed by means of a torque tube connected through a transmission 'rod and a lever to each of the bell-crank levers which control the braking devices.

The invention will be better understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which is shown, by way of example, one embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In these figures! Fig. '1 is :aipartial .perspective .view of therdevice.

' Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one pedal.

Fig. 3 is a partial 'elevational'side view of .the device.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section alonglineW-iof Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view and Fig. 6 is a partial elevationalcross section showing details of the adjustmentdevice.

Referring to the accompanying drawingspthe two pedals la and lb are secured on lower ends of tubes 2a and 222 respectively, these two tubes ..being..articulated attheir .upper ends about an mission rods 3a andtb respeetivelytodevers 4a ,=and-.Ab rigid with.-.a..common tube li5iarticulated hat itsl'foot aboutcanaaxis Luz-1w of a stationary I Said .tubes -are. connected by trans- -base I6. -Moreover, .tnbefiiis 'j ournalle'd. in appropri-ate bearings about its .own. axis. Said' bear- ,7 esmayibe. ballloearings, theouter race of which Lhasa. sphericalsurface ofsufficient width to per- ..mit :the ..slight necessary rocking movement -.aroundl.the axis; w-ew,as .shown in Fig. 5. "Tube Zfilbearsatlits I'foot. amigid. lever' articulated with ..a..connecting .rod'.8 connected with itheicontrol .ilinkage .oi the rudder. In the example shown,

. Lit-".has beenassumed that theiris a twin pilot fdrive comprising two pairs .of pedals. 'In this .case, .the coupling of .the (two ,pilot positions is .ecarried. outhy. means .of. aconnecting rod-.15 articnlated .with .a..lever [i] [integral with .tube -5. The.upper-end.of.tube Sis engaged inlaslot (Fig.-.6) providedinthelower portion of.assubstantiallyhorizohtal tube I l inwhichis rotatively -mountedrlsoas to beunable to.slide,1-a.tube I 2, .a.threaded portion l3.of whichmesheswith'an .inner thread .ld-of anut member l.5,..into which :isengagedend l6 ..of:tube 5, acting asaiulcrum -thro1. gh.an appropriate bearing .hand-wheel- 1.8 permits the rotationoftubell 2.

l1. A .small ,The operation ofthe control linkage andthence ethe steering .ofthe rudder is effected lay-pressing .upon either pedal l.so-.as to impartatranslatory motion thereto. The resultrof said motionis a .pivoting vof i the corresponding -tube f 2 about axis 1 a:--.;c. A correspondingdisplacementof theorespective .transmission .rod 3 .will rotate tube 5 gpeda s. so .asto .adapt =-thesame -.to .the pilot's =-stature, will be easily carried out .by actuating:- in

-.the desired direction the .small hand-wheel l8,

. asoas tosshift the upperrend l6 of;tube.5.by,pivoting :the .latter 'abouteaxis .this operation causing .through-connectingerods .-13a and=3b a asimultaneous pivotmg :of .both tubes 2a and 2b -.a'bout. axis whichresults1in.turn.-in a displacementqof the two .pedals inLthe desired: direction. :Since tube :5 .receives no :rotation by .this

. :operation,;it wilkbe:easilymnderstood that .the 1116.681 control; is not :disturbed.even in .the.sl ight it est::manner.

rA-zdescription =will-now :belgivenaof the=.device :forbrakingimelanding-wheels. In;.thevexample shown in the accompanying drawings, the braking system is of hydraulic type, the brake of each wheel being controlled by hydraulic cylinders I91; and 1% respectively. The piston of each cylinder 5 is actuated by pivoting the corresponding pedal about its axis z--z. This pivoting is transmitted by means of corresponding rods a and 26b to terminal fulcrums of bell-crank levers 2m and 1:.2ib respectively. These tWOFlEVQISJI pivot about mraxis. actuate,-through arms 22a and 22b respectively, corresponding piston rods 23a and .123b of the corresponding hydraulic cylinders. In ..oase .of a twin v.pilot drive, the coupling between the two pilot drives is performed through two .15 ztorqueztubesifla and 241) respectively, connected through .transmission bars 25a and 26a. and 25b andfifibrespectively to the bell-crank levers '2la an'dZl b. "It will be understood that this mechan- .ioal:connection permits controlling both hydraulic 20 cylinders, at will, from either one of the two ..;pilot s";- position.

mhe p-istonnoLeach cylindermaybe lockedin :8. vent-simple ,a-nd veasy .manner "any .desired ;.position, which constitutes -a very simple .and fefiicienhparkingebrake.

' zThisrlockingi is.-,performed.by.- meansof .arms 21 {:rigid with (the bell-crank -=levers .2l .and provided with terminal .toothed sectors 28, -co-oper-ating ".with pawls @291. mounted on: axles .3B.supported .by atube rlllzand' endingiby claws 3 Lintermeshingwith rxthez-above-mentione'd-.toothed' sectors. ,Theend of the second arm of each pawl 29 isrconnected to-2a -rod.-132 slidabl'e within :tube 4:2, the .latter vztuberbeing aenclosed .in-.turn,--within tube H -Rod ".ifisendszinaatknob:33, ar'coil spring .534 urgingsaid 'z-rode'from :the [left to :the right (Fi -.6) so :as -.to release clam-3lifrometheateeth of=sectors.-2'8. The zbrakeswwill :be {locked ;by ;simply; ,pushing1 knob 33 tfromzthesrightstoz-the 161E580. as rto make :thegpawl :intermes'h with @the -.toothed sectors, the :friction rthus established being :.=sufiicient 1 to prevent the 3fiifrom unlocking the intermeshing. ":Thea'express'ions transverse and fore-andratt" awherever used therein :refer in general to .zdirections withsrespectrto 2 the fore-and af-t .axis cof itheraircnaftaxssuming that the pilot thereof Li's seated .inathe zusual position, facing forward. iInithe: eventZ;that=.-the pilot'-;ist intended to face-in any other direction, the Jineor-plane of reference revillidoezchangedaccordingly.

:It isfisdhegunderstoodtthatzthe invention-is not zatzalli limitedmo the-:exampledescribeduand shown in the accompanying nirawlings, :and :that -.it.is :perfectly 1permissible.;to:alter, .in ;:particular, the (various tconst-ructional .embodiments, :01, in-,case cof iansingle ".pilot adiive aircraft, ;,to idO ,away with :the couplingmontrivances.etc.,- without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Lolaim is: :1. macombmedcdevice afonaircratt rudders and zlan'dmgewheel zbrzakes provided -;With emeans for adjustingcthegpositionrofs control members .to the I ipi lotisz;statur.e,=-,even sin: fiightfiand without inter- ;fieringvwithany :controls; this. device comprising: mag-fixed support, :at least {two pedals :articul-ated reach about aaseparate horizontal transverse..-axle -:carried':by the-flowers free .-:end efeapedal supportringz-tubepsaidttubes.mingeartieulated at their upper ends to said fixed support and movable'about 1028. i common horizontal :transverse :axis,. a :rudder econtrol tube-articulated: at --lower .end about rza .pivotifor {rocking 'motionearound a .horizontal sax-is sand :rotatablezabout .:;i.tS';OWI1 longitudinal earns, ttwo rods tconnecting respectively iiieach of :said {pedal :suphorting :.'-tubes with. anaupper: cross arm rigid with said rudder control tube, a lower cross arm rigid with the same rudder control tube and carrying a steering gear transmission, means for actuating the brakes by pivoting the pedals about their respective horizontal axles, and means for displacing in a fore and aft direction the upper end of said rudder control tube, whereby the position of the pedals may be adjusted to the pilots stature, by the simultaneous pivoting of said pedal supporting tubes about their common upper axis, the three controls of steering, braking and adjustment of pedals being independent each from another.

2. A control, device according to claim 1 in which the rudder control tube displacing means includes a rod rotating without sliding about its own longitudinal axis inside of a fixed tubular casing substantially perpendicular to the rudder control tube and a nut threaded on said rod and adapted to slide without rotating in said tubular casing, the upper end of the rudder control tube being engaged with said nut.

3. A control device according to claim 1 in which the pedal position adjusting means comprises connecting rods connected to the rudder control tube at points relatively far from the lower pivot axis of said tube and connected to the pedal supporting tubes at points relatively close to the upper pivot axis thereof in such a manner that limited displacement of the upper end of the rudder control tube causes a substantially amplified displacement of the pedal supporting tube.

4. A control device accordingto claim 1 and adaptable to twin pilot drive in which there are two rudder control tubes, a coupling bar articulated to arms mounted on said tubes, whereby the rotation of either of said tubes will cause corresponding rotation of the other tube, two pairs of pedals similarly articulated, a torsion tube connecting together for equal braking action the transmission means of the two left pedals and a. torsion tube connecting together for equal braking action the transmission means of the two right pedals.

5. A control device according to claim 1 and adaptable to twin pilot drive which includes, two

rudder control tubes, rigid couplingmeans connecting said tubes for simultaneous rotation in the same direction and to the same extent, two pairs of separately articulated pedals and rigid coupling means connecting the respective left pedals and respective right pedals for simultaneous movement in the same direction and to the same extent, the pedal position adjusting means for each pair of pedals being independent of the adjustment of the other pair.

6. A control device according to claim 1 which includes at least one rack and pawl device connected to the brake actuating means for looking at least one of the brakes.

7. The combination in a control device for aircraft, of a fixed support, a substantially horizontal fixed tube having a longitudinal slot, a substantially vertical rudder-operating member mounted on said fixed support to rotate and to pivot relative to said fixed support and having its upper end engaging said slot, a pair of pedal carrying members pivoted to said fixed tube so as to be substantially parallel to said rudder-operating member, two opposite lever arms extending from said rudder-operating member, a pair of links connecting said pedal carrying members to said lever arms, respectively, whereby pressure on the lower end of one of said pedal carryingmembers rotates said rudder-operating member in one direction and pressure on the lower end of the other pedal carrying member rotates said rudder-operating member in the other direction, and means to adjust the position of the upper end of the rudder-operating member in said longitudinal slot of the fixed tube, and thereby the position of said pedal carrying members.

RAYMOND SAULNIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Pickens Aug. 9, 1949 

